Concrete fence posts



July 24, 1962 J. F. HAlLE 3,045,977

CONCRETE FENCE POSTS Filed April 29, 1960 INVENTORI JOHN F. HAILE ATTORNEY I ilnite States Patent 3,045,977 CONCRETE FENCE PUSTS John F. Hm'le, Minor, Va. Filed Apr. 29, 196i Ser. No. 25,718 8 Claims. (Ci. 256--51) This invention relates to concrete fence posts provided with vertically spaced slots at predetermined intervals to retain and support the overlapping ends of bars or rails used in the construction of straight fences having aligned panels. Such concrete posts are specially adapted for use in straight fences for enclosing gardens and places of historic interest, such as Stratford Hall, Colonial Williamsburg, where an artistic appearing structure is highly desirable. In addition to artistic design, concrete posts of this type would lend ruggedness and economy in the cost of construction.

In the construction of all such straight or aligned fences it is essential that the posts be of suflicient ruggedness to provide ample resistance to external forces ordinarily encountered for the exclusion of beasts or ordinary vandalism. In current practice it is common to use wooden posts for such enclosures, with mortised slots to accommodate the overlapping ends of the rails or bars therein. But such materials are becoming quite expensive in addition to the increasing costs of labor. Moreover, such posts must be of larger size to offer the necessary resistance to external pressures tending to disrupt the narrower edges adjacent the slots. Besides the increasing costs, owing to the greater size required for the posts, such wooden construction suffers in artistic effects.

The use of barbed or smooth wire is also well known in use with concrete posts, but the general methods of attachment of the wires are not conducive to beauty or durability, and would be objectionable for specific purposes as suggested above, such as historical grounds and shrines maintained for public interest and use.

A generally common method for attachment of wire to concrete posts resides in molding hooks or similar wire attaching means into the face of the post, thereby producing an unsightly effect on the aesthetic taste. Moreover, the attaching means is more likely to deteriorate with time and the ravages of the elements, thereby weakening the attaching means against externally applied forces. This method is not only expensive but is not so durable or artistic in appearance as the structure set forth in this invention.

In view of the foregoing considerations, it is an object of this invention to provide reinforced concrete posts of rectangular cross section, but having one pair of parallel faces relatively wide through which a slot is molded to receive the ends of panel bars or boards, as will be more particularly defined as the description advances, with the other two parallel faces of relatively narrow dimensions, thus presenting a fiat appearing post which produces an artistic appearance when installed in straight fences.

In order to provide separate slots to support the ends of the bars in spaced position on the panels, the invention envisions the use of steel pins or the like, which are held in the desired spaced relationship at predetermined intervals along the central slot, and molded into the concrete on each side of the bar-retaining slot. The ends of these steel pins may be uniformly continuous with the shank of the pin, or they may be upset at the ends to afford greater security against removal. After the molding apparatus is removed, the steel pins remain firmly and rigidly fixed at the ends in the concrete wall on either side of the slot.

Another object of special importance is the feature embodied in the provision of a forked or bifurcated lower end on the post, which enters the ground. As noted in fire the accompanying drawing, the lower end of the post is constructed with an upwardly tapering V-shaped notch defining an angle of approximately 20", though the size may vary somewhat within reasonable practicable limits. This V-shaped notch extends in the instant illustrated example some 18", and terminates in a relatively narrow slot with substantially parallel Walls of substantially in diameter and four inches in length. The purpose of this relatively small slot is to provide ready means for anchoring a strand of barbed wire near the surface of the ground before the post is lowered into its permanent setting.

Cu opposite sides of the V-shaped notch are arms or le s or prongs which afford anchorage for the post in lieu of the uniformly straight, solid posts in common use. Since the inner edges of these prongs form the opposite sides of the 26 V-shaped angle at the center, it follows that the slope on the inner edges of these prongs is about 10. While the vertical distance these ground-penetrating prongs are designed to penetrate the ground is optional and will depend on the nature of the soil; the dimension illustrated in the disclosure is approximately 18 to the entrance of the narrow slot, which is at the ground surface.

Another feature of the invention is the slight outward taper of tr e posts from top to bottom. As illustrated for illustrative purposes but not as a limitation, the posts are shown with each face tapering outwardly from top to bottom at such slope that the overall width of each face at the extreme lower ends of the prongs is increased by approximately two inches. While this increase is slight and adds very little material at the upper end, the increase at the bottom and especially at and near the ends of the prongs adds materially to their ruggedness or strength thereby contributing to a more substantial anchorage in the ground. Moreover, it will be observed from the drawing that each prong terminates at its extreme outer end in a small knob, which lends additional retaining power, as will be readily understood by any one who has ever tried to remove a post with a knob at its end.

Still another feature of novelty resides in the concaved or notched inner edges of the prongs, as indicated in the drawing. While these depressions are optional, and the post would provide in most instances satisfactory anchorage in the ground without the depressions, they are adapted to lighten the material somewhat, and would not be conducive to any weakening of the post, since they are in alignment with the direction of the fence panels, and no weakening in reducing the amount of material would be possible in a direction transverse to the line of the fence, which is the only directions in which external pressure or force would be likely to damage the fence. Another advantage in the use of such bifurcated posts is that a smaller hole for each prong is required, and these holes may be dug with the use of a smaller tool and without disturbing the soil between their extreme ends, thereby further contributing to a firmer anchorage. Furthermore, by virtue of the slightly greater external surface in the notched or concave inner faces of the prongs, a greater frictional resistance to removal or loosening of the posts is thereby afforded.

The purpose of providing for the installation of a single strand of barbed wire at the ground surface is to secure the fence against encroachments by hogs or other small animals without marring the beauty of the fence. This objective is achieved by the provision of the bifurcated ground-penetrating end of the post and the open narrow slot projecting upwardly from the convergence of the prongs. In this manner the installation of the wire is simple, secure against loosening by external forces, and is hardly noticeable, thereby eliminating any unseemly feature to mar the artistic beauty of the fence.

The instailation of the wire is effected by first stretching the strand of wire across the open hole for the post, raising the post and straddling the prongs over the wire, then pulling the strand into the narrow slot provided at the convengence of the prongs, and drawing it upwardly to the end of the slot; and after stretching it to the desired tautness, a small wooden or other wedge is driven into the open end of the slot to retain the wire in place. This method of assembly is simple, easy to effect, and poses no difliculty before the post is finally lowered to its depth and tamped in the hole provided for its anchorage in the ground.

It is believed from the foregoing general description that the invention and its many advantages will be fully obvious, and that such fence construction will produce an economic, durable and beautiful fence for any purpose, but more especially for use about historic grounds and gardens, where artistic beauty is of such paramount importance.

All the foregoing enumerated advantages and objects I attain by means of the construction and combination of features illustrated and described in the preferred forms in the accompanying drawings, specification and claims, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a concrete fence post, illustrating the general construction and angular arrangement of the slots and prongs;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view drawn to a slightly enlarged scale as seen from section line 22 on FIG. 1 illustrating the slotted portion with spaced steel pins for supporting the ends of the respective bars;

FIGURE 3 illustrates a transverse section drawn to a slightly enlarged scale of the lower end of the post across the ground-penetrating prongs as viewed from section line 3-3 on FIG. 1; and

FEGURE 4 illustrates an enlarged section similar in position to FIGURE 3, but showing a slight modification in the form of the inner depressions, which are curved or concaved instead of notched.

The concrete post illustrated in MG. 1, is indicated by the reference numeral 1, and for illustrative purposes is of generally rectangular cross section, the dimensions of the opposite pairs of fiat faces being of the order of 7 by 2", and of an overall length of approximately The outer edges of the post are slightly beveled and the faces taper outwardly downwardly from top to bottom, wherein the transverse dimension across the wider face from the outer edges of the prongs is about 9 while the transverse overall dimension at the same end would be about 4". The prongs 3 as illustrated would measure some 8 in length from their convergence at the open end of the open slot or groove 4 to the extreme lower ends, While the slot or groove 4 would extend upwardly about 4. The width of the groove 4, as previously mentioned, would be about In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the width at the ends of the prongs across the transverse faces would be about 4", due to the taper from the top, while the dimension in the direction parallel with the wider face of the post would be only about 1 /2. But with the knobs 8 extending along the wider face, the anchorage would be fairly secure against transverse forces against the exposed upper portion of the post.

A longitudinal slot of substantially parallel sides or edges, of a length of about 30 is provided in the molding process, said slot as illustrated in FIGURE 1 being of about 1% wide, but in any event must be molded of such width as to accommodate the overlapping ends of bars or rails to be used in constructing the fence panels. In order to support the fence bars or rails in predetermined spaced position, the invention envisages subdividing said slot 9 into separate apertures by the use of steel rods or pins 2 of such diameter as to provide rigid supports for the bar ends, and of such length as to extend across the slot 9 with ends extending a sulficient distance into the concrete on either side of the slot 9 to secure the pins 2 firmly in anchored position along the sides of the slot. A detail of these supporting pins 2 is shown in FIGURE 2, as also the steel reinforcing rods '7.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a section across the prongs 3, looking upward in the direction of the groove 4. Reference numeral 5 illustrates in detail the notched formation along the inner edges of the prongs. These notches are of uniform depth throughout the length of the prong 3.

FIGURE 4 shows a modified form of the depression, which is of concave form, as shown at 6, and this concavity is also of uniform depth through the length of the prongs. The selection of the form preferred is optional, the results being generally the same.

While the post disclosed in the foregoing description and illustrated in the drawing may be considered as the preferred form, the dimensions of the parts, such as height of post, depth of ground penetration, number of separate apertures between pins 2 for the fence bars or rails, and the dimensions of the post in cross-section may be varied to conform with the peculiarities and needs of the location.

Having thus described my invention and the manner of use, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is distinctly set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A reinforced concrete fence post of substantially rectangular cross section, said post having a longitudinal slot extending axially through said post from near one end for a major portion of its length toward the opposite end, said longitudinal slot being of such width as to receive the overlapped ends of conventional fence rails, a plurality of metallic rods extending transversely across said slot at uniformly spaced intervals and having their ends firmly secured in the opposite side walls defining said slot, said rods being adapted to support the overlapped ends of fence rails in uniformly spaced position along said slot, said opposite end of said post being bifurcated by a V-shaped notch, thereby forming a pair of outwardly tapering anchoring prongs, said V-shaped notch terminating near its vertex in a relatively narrow groove of substantially uniform width, said groove extending to within a relatively short distance from the proximate end of said longitudinal slot, said groove being adapted to receive and retain in position a strand of barbed wire in close proximity to the surface of the ground and beneath the lowermost rail when the post is anchored in upright position.

2. A reinforced concrete fence post of substantially rectangular cross section, the adjacent sides of any such section being of unequal length, whereby the post assumes a fiat-like appearance, said post having a longitudinal slot of uniform width extending axially through the wider transverse dimension of said post from near one end thereof throughout a major portion of its length toward the other end of said post, said slot being of such width as to receive the overlapped ends of conventional fence rails, a plurality of metallic rods extending transversely across said slot at uniformly spaced intervals between the ends of said slot for supporting the overlapping ends of said fence rails in spaced position along said slot, the ends of said metallic rods being firmly secured in the opposite walls defining said slot, said other end of said post being bifurcated by a V-shaped notch extending through said wider dimension of said post thereby forming a pair of outwardly tapering or diverging anchoring prongs, said notch terminating near its vertex in a relatively narrow groove of substantially uniform width and extending inwardly to within a relatively short distance from the proximate end of said longitudinal slot, said groove being adapted to receive and retain a strand of barbed wire in fixed position between the surface of the ground and the adjacent rail in the lowermost position in said slot when the post is anchored, and the ends of said prongs having knobs or enlargements for effecting a firmer and more secure anchorage against removal.

3. A reinforced concrete fence post of substantially rectangular cross section, the adjacent sides of any such section being of unequal length, thereby producing a post of fiat-like appearance, said post having a longitudinal slot of uniform Width extending axially from near one end of said post throughout a major portion of its length toward the other end of said post, said longitudinal slot being of such width as to receive the overlapping ends of fence rails, a plurality of metallic rods extending transversely across said slot at uniformly spaced intervals between its ends for supporting the ends of said fance rails in uniformly spaced position along said slot, the ends of said rods being securely fixed in opposite walls of said slot, said other end of said post being bifurcated by a V-shaped notch through the same sides of said post as traversed by said longitudinal slot, thereby forming a pair of outwardly diverging and tapering anchoring prongs, said V-shaped notch terminating near its vertex in a relatively narrow groove of uniform width and extending inwardly to within relatively close proximity to the proximate end of said longitudinal slot, said groove being adapted to receive and secure therein a strand of barbed wire between the lowermost rail in said slot and the surface of the ground when the post is anchored, the ends of said anchoring prongs having knobs or enlargements for more firmly securing said post against removal, and the inner edges of said prongs adjacent said notch being slightly notched to provide additional resistance against removal of said post in its anchorage.

4. A reinforced concrete fence post of substantially rectangular cross section, the adjacent sides of any such section being of unequal length, thereby producing a post of generally fiat-like appearance but in which each lateral face tapers slightly outwardly from one end to the other end of said post, so that the post in its overall dimensions would simulate the frustum of a rectangular pyramid, said post being traversed by a longitudinal slot of uniform width axially through the wider lateral faces from near one end for a major distance toward the other end of said post, a plurality of metal rods extending transversely across said slot at uniformly spaced intervals for supporting the overlapping ends of fence rails in said slot, the ends of said rods being firmly secured in the opposite sides defining said slot, said other end of said post which would correspond to the base of said truncated pyramid being bifurcated by a V-shaped notch through the same faces as said slot thereby forming a pair of outwardly tapering anchoring prongs, said V-shaped notch terminating near its vertex in a relatively narrow groove of uniform width which extends to within a relatively short distance from the proximate end of said longitudinal slot, said groove being adapted to receive and retain therein a strand of barbed wire between the lower end of said slot and the surface of the ground when the post is anchored, and the ends of said anchoring prongs being slightly enlarged as by knobs for more firmly anchoring and securing said post against removal.

5. The structure defined in claim 4, wherein the opposite inner edges of said anchoring prongs are uniformly notched.

6. The structure defined in claim 4, wherein the opposite inner edges of said prongs are uniformly concaved.

7. A reinforced concrete fence post of substantially rectangular cross section, the adjacent sides of any such section being of unequal length, said post having a longitudinal slot of uniform Width extending axially through the Wider dimension from near one end of said post for a major distance of its length toward the opposite end thereof, said slot being of such Width as to receive the overlapping ends of conventional fence rails therein, a plurality of metallic rods extending transversely across said slot at uniformly spaced intervals between the ends of said slot for supporting the ends of said fence rails in uniformly spaced position in said slot, the ends of said metallic rods being firmly secured in the opposite walls defining said slot, and the said opposite end of said post being adapted to anchorage in the ground.

8. A reinforced concrete fence post of rectangular cross section and provided with slot means extending from one end thereof for a major part of its length for securing fence rails in uniformly spaced position, the opposite end of said post being bifurcated by a V-shaped notch, thereby providing a pair of diverging anchoring pron s, the inner edges of said prongs tapering outwardly, said V-shaped notch terminating near its vertex in a relatively narrow groove having parallel walls and of such width as to receive and retain a strand of barbed wire in said groove, and the ends of said anchoring prongs being slightly enlarged as by knobs for more firmly securing the post against removal from its anchorage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 158,210 Hartley Dec. 29, 1874 813,338 Wilcox Feb. 20, 1906 835,719 Westlake Nov. 13, 1906 870,554 Gargett Nov. 12, 1907 993,136 Wolle May 23, 1911 1,003,660 Schaefer Sept. 19, 1911 

